The last day of September. Three-quarters of 2020 are behind us. So far, it has been a most memorable year—one that none of us expected I am sure. None of us expected a pandemic. None of us expected the economy to shut down. The phrase “social distancing” was not even part of our vocabulary. I might also add that perhaps our focus was not on the LORD as much at the beginning of the year as it is now—now that we are desperate for God to move.
Helen Howarth Lemmel was born in England but came to the United States at age 12, settling in Wisconsin with her parents. She was a brilliant singer, studying voice for four years in Germany. In the early 1900’s she regularly traveled giving concerts in many churches.
She married a European who was quite wealthy. She taught voice at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago before teaching in Los Angeles. During her lifetime of 98 years she composed over 500 hymns and poems and even authored a children’s book.
But in the middle years of her life things changed dramatically and she was dealt a couple of big blows to her faith. Helen became blind and her husband abandoned her. Life became a struggle for her. Then someone sent her a pamphlet with words that changed her life. She took those words to heart and wrote a song we all know well. That song was “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.”
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
2020 has been difficult for many of us. Maybe circumstances have hurt us, or someone has abandoned us and left us wounded. I genuinely believe that when we are at our lowest, if we but turn our focus to Jesus, asking for His comfort, peace, and grace, He will not deny us. We will find as Helen did, that the things of earth “will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=turn+your+eyes+upon+jesus&docid=608004452610868981&mid=42A8767EFACCD5481D2942A8767EFACCD5481D29&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
